Fijian members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are mourning the death of one of their world leaders.
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church has died at his home in Salt Lake City, US. He was 86.
He has a special place in the hearts of the local members.
In 2008, Elder Scott came to Fiji to officially open the church’s service centre at Samabula.
The centre houses a book centre, business office of the church in Fiji, family history unit and accommodation for patrons of the temple on Princes Road.
Elder Scott was sustained as an apostle on October 1, 1988 after being called as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 2, 1977.
He had served as a member of the presidency of that quorum from October 1983 until he was called as an apostle in 1988.
As with the apostles in New Testament times, Latter-day Saint apostles are called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Elder Scott was one of 15 men who help oversee the growth and development of the global church, which numbers more than 15 million members.
Elder Scott taught, “There are few things in life that bring as much joy as the joy that comes from assisting another improve his or her life.”
He graduated from George Washington University as a mechanical engineer and completed postgraduate work in nuclear engineering at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
From 1953 to 1965 Elder Scott served on the staff of Admiral Hyman Rickover, directing the development of nuclear fuel for a wide variety of naval and land-based power plants.
He also worked as a private consultant for nuclear power companies.
Elder Scott received an honorary doctor of Christian service degree from Brigham Young University in 2008.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints